2019 Nuclear-Free Future Tour: California photos, videos, and contacts

by Ellen Thomas

NFF Tour, July 12-31 2019 in California, Mendocino to Sacramento, SF Bay, Fresno, SLObispo, Ojai

Saturday to Monday, July 13-15 – in SACRAMENTO with WILPF and Peace Action

Nuri Ronaghy working with Ellen Schwartz in Sacramento, California (photos by Ellen Thomas)

At the July 14, potluck at Peace Action Conference Room, 909 in Sacramento the Nuclear-Free Tour of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom DISARM/End Wars committee, began collecting letters and petitions for memorial events in Hiroshima, Japan. Hosts: WILPF Sacramento, and Winifred Detwiler of Peace Action.

Ellen Thomas, and Nuri Ronaghy and Alan Shorb, spoke on the first stop of the Nuclear-Free-Future tour, in Sacramento.

July 15 – 1 pm – we met with Rep Doris Matsui’s staffer Gabriela Herrera, 501 I Street, #12-600, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-498-5600

... with WILPF constituents Wayne Chapman, Ellen Schwartz, and Gary Meyer

July 15 - 3 pm – we met with Rep John Garamendi’s staffer Logan Sidle, 412 G Street, Davis CA 95616, 530-753-5301

... with WILPF constituents Nancy Price, Ellen Schwartz, and Sarah Pattison, DavisCAN member

Tues. to Thurs., July 16-18 – in SOUTH BAY with WILPF San Jose and Palo Alto

(Thanks for the hard work of the three WILPF South Bay sponsors, Joan Goddard, Cherrill Spencer, and Judy Adams!)

7/16 – Lobbying only – 10:30 am we met with Zoe Lofgren staffers Sandra Soto and Kerry Duncan, 635 North First Street Suite B, San Jose, CA 95112 408-271-8700

... with constituents including Rev. Runan Fairgrove,and WILPF’s Lois Fiedler, Joan Goddard, and Essie Baradar.

7/16 – 2:30 pm met with Ro Khanna’s staffers Cassandra Langer and Lakeisha Bryant, 3150 De La Cruz Blvd, Suite 240, Santa Clara, CA 95054, 408-436-2720

... with constituents, including WILPF’s Joan Goddard, Essie Baradar, and Chuck Jagoda

7/17, Lobbying and speeches

At 10:30 am we met with Jackie Speier's staffer Brian Perkins, 155 Bovet Road, Suite 780, San Mateo, CA 94402 - 650-342-0300

... with WILPF’s Cherrill Spencer , and constituent Jody Bay AND met at 2:30 with Rep. Anna Eshoo’s staffer, Baltazar Lopez, 698 Emerson Street Palo Alto, California 94301, (650) 323-2984 or (408) 245-2339 – Rep. Eshoo introduced H.R.2354 into 116th Congress (2019-2020), the “Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019,” on 4/25/2019 – it’s in the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.

... with Cherrill Spencer Baltazar Lopez strongly recommended that we contact all of the members of Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee. John Garamendi, Ro Khanna, and Jackie Speier are mem-bers whose staffs we met with in Davis, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. The other Democrats (who are in the majority) are Jim Cooper (TN), Susan Davis (CA), Rick Larsen (WA), Seth Moulton (MA), Salud Carbajal (CA), Bill Keating (MA), Kendra Horn (OK), and Adam Smith (WA).

7/17 at 6:30 pm – South Bay WILPF event at Mitchell Park Library, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Click on the names below to go to the videos of the following speakers in Palo Alto on July 17, 2019: Cherrill Spencer of WILPF San Jose introduced nuclear weapons history and WILPF Nuri Ronaghy and Alan Shorb of Ojai WILPF spoke about the history of Iran and USA, then and now. Ellen Thomas helped Marylia Kelley speak by cell phone about current nuclear weapons from the perspective of Tri-Valley Cares and Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, after Marylia’s car broke down on the way from Livermore. (first 30 minutes)

Ellen then introduced herself and current legislation in Congress, the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and what people can do. (from minute 30 to 56)

Thurs. to Sat., July 18-20 – FRESNO WILPF Thanks so much to Jean Hays for hospitality and hard work arranging this marvelous experience!

7/19, met with Rep. Jim Costa’s staffer, Denise Sahatdjian, 855 M Street, Suite 940. Fresno, CA 93721, 559-495-1620

... with WILPF Fresno constituents hostess Jean Hays (left) and Camille Russell (right)

Also on July 19, we met with Senator Feinstein’s staffer, Kristina Solbert, 2500 Tulare St, Suite 4290, Fresno, CA 93721, 559-485-7430

Photo: Jean Hays, Kristina Solbert, Nuri Ronaghy,and Alan Shorb, with Ellen Thomas behind the camera. July 19, 7 pm – WILPF event at Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno

Click on the names to go to the videos of the following speakers in Fresno on July 19, 2019:

Jean Hays introduced Nuri Ronaghy and Alan Shorb of Ojai WILPF, who spoke about the history of Iran and the USA, then and now. Ellen Thomas spoke about Japan trip and about current legislation in Congress, the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and what people can do. Jean Hays interviewed Ellen Thomas on KFCF Radio’s “Stir It Up” on August 28, representing WILPF Fresno. (Ellen recorded the interview with her camera facing outside her office.)

Sun., July 21-22 - SAN LUIS OBISPO – (Thanks to Jane Swanson for all your work!) 2-3:30 pm we met with Mothers for Peace at Clubhouse of San Luis Bay Estates, Paso Robles, CA

July 22 - lunch with San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, then Dave Congalton Radio show (recorded)

Jane Swanson, Nuri Ronaghy, Alan Shorb, Ellen Thomas, and Molly Johnson (in left photo); Ellen, Alan, Nuri, and Dave Congalton (in right photo)

Ojai and Ventura, CA

Ellen felt hugely blessed to be able to spend a week in Ojai, California, where Nuri and Alan live, before leaving for Japan. Their charming 2-acre home has goats, chickens, about 60 avocado and a few other fruit trees. The avocados dropped off the trees during the terrible Thomas Fire (“an unfortunate name!” - et), and bore very little the next year, but this year they were teeming with fruit. Ellen enjoyed the animals....

“I love goats!”- et

... while Alan recuperated from all the driving, and Nuri caught up with communications while waiting for family to gather for a feast.

We took our banners to downtown Ojai at noon on Friday for the weekly peace vigil.

We attended a play starring one granddaughter, and enjoyed the naked antics of another.

We were invited to Ventura to share information, and to Santa Barbara to meet with David Krieger, soon to retire as director of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, and with David Williams, a Rainbow friend.

On July 31st, Nuri kissed her grandbaby goodbye, and we headed for Los Angeles airport, and Japan. (Actually, Nuri is kissing her granddaughter hello here, after we got back on August 15th.)

THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE THE CALIFORNIA NUCLEAR-FREE-FUTURE TOUR SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! LINKS TO FLYERS WE HANDED OUT:

* Good People Doing Great Things – including, at bottom of page 2, “Questions for Candidates” in 2020 elections * WILPF-US foldover flyer * Petition to Senators supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons * Petition to U.S. Representatives supporting HR-2419, the “Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Economic and Energy Conversion Act” LINKS TO VIDEOS FROM CALIFORNIA TOUR:

Sacramento Nuri and Alan Ellen Palo Alto Cherrill Spencer Nuri and Alan Ellen and Marylia Kelley Fresno Nuri and Alan Ellen Jean Hays radio interview of Ellen

San Luis Obispo Nuri and Alan Ellen LINKS TO JAPAN TOUR: Hiroshima Report August 6 formal speech (ET) August 4 workshop speech (ET) Letter from WILPF President to atomic bomb survivors

Literature circulated at the meetings: * Petition to U.S. Representatives asking for co-sponsorship of HR-2419 (online version)

* Petition to Senators for UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (online version) * WILPF-US foldover flyer, "Let's End the Whole Nuclear Era!" * "How to fund the Green New Deal and get rid of nukes too!" * Good People Doing Great Things